Sales of new motorcoaches in the U.S. and Canada posted their sharpest quarterly increase of the year during the three months ended Sept. 30, soaring nearly 45 percent higher than the same period last year, National Bus Trader magazine reports.

Coach manufacturers sold a total of 428 new over-the-road buses during the third quarter of this year, up from the 296 units sold during the same three months a year ago.

The third quarter is typically the slowest sales period of the year in the motorcoach industry. This year was different, however. The 44.6 percent increase compares with an 11 percent gain in the second quarter and a 42 percent jump in the first quarter.

However, the number of buses sold in the third quarter remained below the levels of the first and second quarters, when 464 and 533 coaches were sold.

Still, the third period of this year marked the fourth-consecutive quarter that coach sales in the United States and Canada posted a year-over-year gain. The fourth quarter of last year marked the first upswing in new-coach sales after a five-year slump.

Sales to government units again bolstered deliveries for the most recent quarter. However, the impact appears to have been smaller than previous quarters. "If we excluded government agency sales we would still have a strong increase this quarter among private operators," said National Bus Trader Editor Larry Plachno, who compiles the magazines sales report.

There were other nuances about the most-recent sales figures.

While four coach models from three manufacturers again dominated sales, there was some slippage. The four models -- the J4500 and D4500 from MCI, the Van Hool 2045, and the Prevost H3-45 -- accounted for 70 percent of all seated coach sales in this years third quarter, which was down from 84 percent of total seated-coach sales in the second quarter.

Said Plachno: "As sales increase in number, it appears private operators are starting to purchase a wider range of models."

He noted, for example, that Motor Coach Industries now builds four different seated versions of its D-series model. The new MCI D4505 was the fifth best-selling coach in the third quarter, followed by the Setra S 417 at No. 6, and the Prevost LeMirage XL II at No. 7.

Slightly more 40- and 41-foot coaches were sold in the third quarter. A total of 25 of the shorter coaches were delivered, or 5.8 percent of the total, compared to 3 percent in the first quarter.

The percentage of new coaches bought by Canadians slipped in the third quarter of this year, with 7.5 percent of the total going to Canadian operators. That compares with 10.5 percent in the second quarter and 6.5 percent in the first quarter, and 11.1 percent during the third quarter of last year.

The percentage of new coaches headed to the conversion sector moved slightly higher in the third quarter. A total of 69 conversion shells were sold in the third quarter of this year, or 16.1 percent of the total. That compares with 79 units, or 14.8 percent, in the second quarter, and 83 units, or 17.9 percent, in the first quarter.

Allison B-500 transmissions were installed in more than 70 percent of the new coaches sold during the third quarter. That was up from the first and second quarters of the year.

The ZF-AS Tronic transmission was installed in 29.4 percent of all coaches delivered in the third quarter. That was down from 39.4 percent in the first quarter and 32.8 percent in the second quarter. The AS Tronics market share in the overall motorcoach sector continues to be restricted because the ZF automatic stick-shift transmission is not being specd for conversion shells or those going to government agencies.

Questions about National Bus Trader quarterly and annual sales reports should be directed to Plachno at (815) 946-2341, or e-mail lplachno@busmag.com.